trousseau

Where does the word "trousseau" come from? It comes from Old French trousse, passing through French before entering English (1817).

Trousseau’s story begins in Old French: trousse meant “a bundle of belongings.” A bundle, a small pack of belongings. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in French as trousseau. Narrowed to mean a bride's collection of clothing and household linens. It reached English by 1817 as trousseau. French 'little bundle', from 'trousse', bundle. Today, trousseau means the clothes, linens, and other belongings collected by a bride for her marriage.

1. Stage 1 · Old French · medieval trousse "a bundle of belongings", a bundle, a small pack of belongings.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1600s trousseau "a bride's collection of clothing and linens", narrowed to mean a bride's collection of clothing and household linens.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1817 trousseau "a bride's collection of clothes and belongings for marriage", French 'little bundle', from 'trousse', bundle.